How do I change out a breaker in my main breaker box?
My main breaker box does not have a shutoff switch. Is it safe to install a new breaker onto the breaker bus with the breaker in the off position? Or is there a way to kill power to the breaker box somehow that I'm missing?
Related Discussions
How to get rid of mice?
We seem to have some unwelcome Mickeys and Minnies in our house. What is the best way to get rid of them?
How to remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos?
I want to remove my popcorn ceiling, but it has asbestos in it. How do I go about this safely?
How to caulk baseboard gaps?
How do I fill gaps at baseboard, should I caulk? If so, does anyone know how to caulk baseboards?
How to fix squeaky hardwood floors?
How do I fix squeaky hardwood floors?
Breaker box does not have a main power shut off
We need to replace a breaker in a Murray box but there doesn't seem to be a main power shut off. Does anyone see something that I don't? The condo was built in 1978.
How do I kill the power from my main breaker?
I have a home built in 2006, the main panel does not seem to have a main breaker...? See attached pic of the main panel. It's a Siemens G3040 200 amp panel. Outs... See more
Hi Darren. No. Do not try to install a new breaker. It's not safe if it's live whether it's in the off position or not. It's still live behind the breaker. This is a job for a professional.
Please use a licensed electrician for this. Worth every penny. Good luck and stay safe!
Do you by any chance have two breaker boxes. Sometimes there's no room in the main breaker panel for anymore breakers so a sub-panel is installed that needs to be shut off at the main panel. If you only have one panel box there should be a main breaker to turn off power to the panel. Otherwise call an electrician
A house should have a breaker panel on the inside of the house with main power box on the outside next to the electric meter.
if you live in an apartment there may be a utility room which has the panels for all apartments. Check with your building manager to unlock the room so you can shut off your power.
Use a non-contact current meter to be sure you don’t have a live https://www.amazon.com/Gardner-Bender-GVD-3504-Non-Contact-Indicates/dp/B000NBA8F8
If you can't find the main cut off, you might try asking a neighbor where theirs is, they might have the same set-up as you and can advise you.
Also is there a chance you could be looking at a sub panel rather than the main 1? Try looking around, it should be located near where the power comes into the house from the outside.
You may need to call in a licensed electrician.
Glad to hear you are getting an electrician. Electricity is nothing to fool with if you are not 110% sure of what you are doing.
120 Volts Can Kill you. Ordinary, household, 120 volts AC electricity is dangerous and it can kill.
Glad your getting an electrician. Any chance the somehow the sub panel is powering the main panel. Have you tried cutting the breakers off in the sub panel?!